Molds & X-Rays Today

Today was the official start of this little adventure! I wasn't really sure what to expect today. It was pretty simple and 99% painless. :) After I made my first payment, I was escorted to the next room. The next step was a series of photographs. I was surprised to see that they were using a very old Canon 35mm camera! I had several shots taken which pretty much felt like mug shots. (no glamor photography here, that's for sure!) They were using a ring flash on the lens to get some close up teeth shots. Next was an x-ray machine that held my head in place by putting things in my ear. This was quite the contraption! Then it was over to the panoramic x-ray machine that took an x-ray all around my head. And finally they finished up with a couple of frontal bite shots. Wow, I should be glowing from all of that radiation!

Now the fun begins with the molds. I've read a blog or two of other Invisalign patients and none seemed to appreciate this experience. So, I braced myself. Honestly, it really wasn't that bad. The goop that they use isn't the most pleasant tasting stuff in the world but it was tolerable. The problem that I had was that the first molds didn't come out complete and she had to put a little more goop over the bad spot and make me bite down hard for 4 minutes. That was my 1% of pain for the day. My jaw was a little sore and shaking for a little bit after that. It was the same feeling that you get in your arm muscles after carrying something that was a little bit too heavy for you.

And that was it! Now the hard part, waiting! It could be 4 to 6 weeks before I get my trays. My orthodontist says that she is very picky so she almost never accepts the first ClinCheck that comes in. It will probably be a few more weeks before I post further. Hopefully when I do, I have nothing but good things to say! :)